The Mighty Clouds Of Joy
Contemporary gospel's preeminent group, the Mighty Clouds of Joy carried the torch for the traditional quartet vocal style throughout an era dominated by solo acts and choirs; pioneering a distinctively funky sound that over time gained grudging acceptance even among purists, they pushed spiritual music in new and unexpected directions, even scoring a major disco hit. The Mighty Clouds of Joy were formed in Los Angeles during the '50s by schoolmates Joe Ligon and Johnny Martin; while still in their teens, the original group -- which also included Leon Polk, Richard Wallace, and brothers Ermant and Elmo Franklin -- made their recorded debut in 1960 with "Steal Away to Jesus," cut for the Peacock label. Their debut LP, Family Circle, arrived a year later. In the years that followed, the Mighty Clouds joined the ranks of gospel's greatest showmen; one of the first groups to incorporate choreographed moves into their act, their nimble footwork and bright, color-coordinated outfits earned them the sobriquet "The Temptations of Gospel."
More importantly, they were the first group to add bass, drums, and keyboards to the standard quartet accompaniment of solo guitar, resulting in a sound that horrified traditionalists but appealed to younger listeners -- so much so, in fact, that the Mighty Clouds became the first gospel act ever to appear on television's Soul Train, where they performed their disco smash "Mighty High." Their crossover success continued with opening slots for secular pop stars including Marvin Gaye, the Rolling Stones, and Paul Simon, whom the group backed during a monthlong stint at Madison Square Garden. While lineup changes plagued the Mighty Clouds throughout their career, they remained active into the new millennium; in addition to co-founders Ligon and Wallace, their latter-day incarnation also included Paul Beasley, Michael McCowin, Wilbert Williams, Johnny Valentine, and Ron Staples. As the years advanced, Ligon took a more supportive singing role, with lead vocals performed by ex-Gospel Keynotes vocalist Beasley. Ligon died in December 2016 at the age of 80.
© Jason Ankeny /TiVo
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Kickin'
Gospel - Editado por Omnivore Recordings el 1 ene. 1975
24-Bit 96.0 kHz - Stereo -
Power
Gospel - Editado por David Gresham Records el 10 dic. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Definitive Gospel Collection
Pop - Editado por Word Records el 20 may. 2008
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Kickin'
Soul - Editado por Maestro Entertainment, Corp el 15 jun. 2020
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Sing and Shout
Gospel - Editado por Word Records el 15 nov. 1983
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Ultimate Collection
Pop - Editado por Special Markets - Word el 24 ene. 2012
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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I Want to Thank You
Gospel - Editado por LIGHT RECORDS el 22 oct. 2002
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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God Is, Yes My Good Is
Humour/Spoken Word - Editado por Mmt el 1 may. 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
I Want to Go (Where Jesus Is)
Gospel - Editado por White Room Music el 27 jul. 2019
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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Memory Lane / Best Of
Pop - Editado por Word Entertainment el 1 ene. 1993
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
The Mighty Clouds of Joy
Pop - Editado por ALBANY el 26 ago. 2016
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
Soul Masters: It Was You
R&B - Editado por Carinco AG el 29 dic. 2005
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo -
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The Other Side
Pop - Editado por The Mighty Clouds of Joy el 15 oct. 2015
16-Bit CD Quality 44.1 kHz - Stereo